Anette needed a back story that was not laughably dumb, or overly cliche and as I have said, she was kinda backed into a corner. So I came up with something I quite enjoyed and only slightly stepped into the realm of laughably over done. Though an unfortunate side effect of this process was that I did write large portions of a back story for Clayrion, much to the continued chagrin of his player Debby .
Anette Grew up in a family of four in a really dangerous, and quite lowly village just off the shore of the (I believe eastern) coast of the continent named Iunctio. This particular group of the Decille family was comprised of a Mother (Isabelle) a Father and older sister which I did not name, giving the privilege to the DM Tatsu (Which was 1 and 1, one great one that makes me want to punch him) who's monikers were Adele Decille and Pierre Decille respectively...guess which one annoys me. Isabelle and ...Anette's father really chose an awful place to raise a family, it did have a beautiful view of the ocean but it was also plainly visible to many unsavory ships and crews and the occasional group of slavers from any direction. Anette grew up for the first portion of her life fearing nearly everything away from the protection of her Father and Mother, she was even fairly spoiled in comparison to her sister A slight case of daddy's little princess was there, with her frail form and her nervous nature her Father just wanted her to be safe and healthy. Which Pier...Mr. Decille was very good at, Anette's Father was a very talented swordsman, and scary strong to boot...the man used a sword that would make most Square Enix hero's jealous. From the outside looking in, Anette's Father was a monstrous in stature and respected in life man who would intimidate people inadvertently but would treat his family with so much compassion, Anette only remembers the latter.
After a particularly rainy and warm winter in which floods occurred and lighting struck people in the village twice in a span of 4 months, the beginning of Anette's journey began. After a day where outsiders wreaked havoc with violent act's seemingly at random, just after sundown, they showed a collective intention a very horrific one at that. The bunch around town, and some more from outside of the walls started causing mayhem, striking down the young, the old and making a notice. The sun was just heading down so the village was still quite awake, but as screams started littering the air and the uneasy sensation of seeing people not only being struck down but friends and family alike murdered in front of the eyes of the still living.
Anette remembers virtually nothing of the night in question, she remembers her blood stained father running into the Decille home yelling in a panic at Isabelle to "get what you need to protect your self and get the girls out of here this instant" She remembers that one moment so well, because it was the only time she had ever seen her father being so loud and demanding toward her mother with a look of pure despair in his eyes. Anette did not know what was happening, or what that look was, but it stuck in her mind like a masterfully created portrait. Adelle and Isabelle saw something else that night but that is neither here nor there. Isabelle grabbed a great sword which was given to her by Pierre as a gift, then trained to use it well enough to defend her self, prayed to the Goddess of luck for any kind of fortune on the night and she and her daughters cautiously but quickly as possible left the house to see their father and husband keeping people off of them as best he could as they said a lot of things Anette could not here, or in the case she could, it often made no sense. All she remembers about the last time she saw her father is that the majority of the violent group closed in on him, making Pierre the lone focus for much of the attack.
The next two weeks of Anette's life was running, from town to town, with Isabelle occasionally having to fight off people trying to make a woman and her two daughters a sick variation of a haul. During this period of time, Anette could remember only two things and rightfully so considering. Her family in it's diminished numbers received countless uncomfortable looks in the few villages they passed by, and that while in the middle of nowhere, trust has to be earned, with numerous men trying to get the best of her mother after feigning decency.
Alas, after two weeks of harsh gazes and even harsher circumstances the three found their way into a relatively small city, and without any asking, without any begging, the sickly looking and injured Decille women were taken in by a holy man and tended to nearly immediately. This man was a very respected and very adept cleric by the name of Des Malyce. The man was uncannily generous, even as much as opening up his home to the Decille's, even if it was slightly cramped when you included the man's wife and son Clayrion. The stay was actually not a very temporary one, the kind man allowed the three Decille's to stay with his family for many years. The relationship was much like a large family for the most part. The children collectively acted like siblings and Isabelle after a long initial talk with the two adult Des Malyce's they formed an understanding, she would find work and help out as much as she possibly could and in exchange she and her daughters could stay in the house, all bunking in the basement.
It all seemed too good to be true for Anette, the man coming out of nowhere to help them with such little resistance and such willingness...she had never seen anything like it before. She was a little annoyed at the prospect of having to share a bed with Adelle for a while, and she missed her father, flat out bawling for weeks about it, Anette was in a rough state even at 7 years of age and she was a tad untrusting at first of this apparent miracle. Over time Anette and Adelle learned that everything the man did was in the best interests of the many and not himself, they also learned that the hospitality was not strictly from him. The man's wife was kind to the girls and Isabelle, eventually letting them call her by the title aunt, and Clayrion...well Anette and Clayrion formed a solid relationship rather quickly for a few act's he had made. The only act that stuck in Anette's head growing up though was how Clayrion, even at a young age stood up for her when people picked on the small girl for reasons she didn't understand at all, even as she grew older, the focus on her confused her, but Clayrion was always there to cheer her up or to have her back, which was a major deal considering how hurt Anette was after her impromptu eviction from her home village. Some boys would pick on her and push her around, only to be socked by Clayrion, some girls would insult her and throw punches as well, again to be mended or guarded by Clayrion. While she did appreciate everything that Clayrion did for her as a friend, she started thinking of him as more of a big brother, regardless of blood.
Time went on and Clayrion, Adele and Anette all grew. Adele had left the town at eighteen without telling Anette why, though she told her mother. Clayrion had grown into a strong smart young man in front of Anette's eyes, a handsome one she would be willing to say, to boot. As for Anette, she grew in age and stature but she never shook the body type she had, she was a small little girl who progressively grew into a petite young woman. As she got older she got a little more confident and she also grew closer to Clayrion...until Clayrion had to leave home to earn his way into his family's chosen order at sixteen.
By this point Anette was alone, the sister she loved had left without telling her why and her best friend had left when she was fifteen. Yes she had her mother and the Des Malyce's still, but her companionship was all gone. This is when she slipped into a depression and and began losing hope...she remembered all of the protecting Clayrion had done for her, even before they had gotten close and realized what she wanted to do. Anette was going to find Clayrion and not only thank him, but return the favor as best she could. She accepted requests of helping around town with any odd jobs, this got her mind off of things as well as built up some seriously needed muscle. She also began training in secret how to safely use a sword, because she knew that she would not be too helpful if she cut off her own hand. and in a period of three and a half years, the petite young redhead who looked like a stick had grown into a fairly shapely, though still short woman with a very nicely toned musculature.
On the eve of her eighteenth birthday Anette informed Isabelle of what she was planning on doing. Unlike what she had expected Anette's mother was respectful of her decision. She had been the only person who truly witnessed the transformation from nervous, frail tiny Anette to a strong, beautiful and...slightly more confident Woman. Her Mother decided not to hinder her in any way, and instead replaced the shoddy little sword Anette planned on using with the great sword she had been given by her husband. The sword she then informed Anette she had received because her father loved the entire family and wanted to keep them safe. The name Isabelle was engraved on the blade, and because of this Anette refers to her sword by her mothers name. Teary eyed and very emotional, Anette knew she had to do this she left at sunrise to find and help her best friend.
Like I said, her back story was nothing special, but it was something that allowed me at least a little creativity and redemption considering the circumstances behind Anette as a whole. I believe that this will be all for the night, but when I return I think I will grade my self....
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